These are my notes from a message by Pastor Russ Sukhia of Liberty Church PCA. It is taken from John 4:3-38.
Click here to listen to Pastor Russ’ message in its entirety.
We can learn several important lessons from the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John Chapter 4:
God’s Providence: Christ’s meeting with this woman was not a coincidence. Scripture tells us He ‘needed’ to go thru Samaria.
Christ’s Person: Jesus was wearied and tired, revealing for us His full humanity as well as divinity
Christ’s Dealings with Unbelievers: He quickly revealed that the woman’s real problem was sin when He told her to “Call your husband”
John 4 shows us the importance of personal testimonies and how God uses them to bring people to saving faith. Sharing the Gospel with someone is really “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
Personal testimony is often the means God uses to produce faith in men’s hearts
Acts 26:9 and following – Paul told his own personal story
We should want to tell those we love most about God’s gift…eternity itself is on the line!
How can we not share this glorious news with those we love the most…our loved ones and family?
The Samaritan woman earnestly and passionately told others what she personally knew and experienced
This woman’s story was the instrument through which God brought many to faith, and led others to consider it.
Our past life does not limit what Christ can do through us today
Consider that the Samaritan woman was a known adulteress; Saul of Tarsus was a known Christian terrorist
The church is an assembly of sinners who have been redeemed (1 Cor 6:11)
We can earnestly tell others what we have personally experienced as a result of Christ’s presence in our lives – the joy, peace, comfort, contentment, satisfaction
Let our earnestness, passion and zeal also be mixed with prudence and judiciousness
Notice the tact and sensitivity of the Samaritan woman’s testimony: “Could this be the Christ?” Given her rank in society, her message would have been received quite differently had she said “This is the Christ!”
Put God’s truth in the shape of what your audience will understand
“Become all things to all men so that we can save some”
Saving faith can arise apart from a personal testimony — God uses other means too
Once we’ve shared the Gospel, God has many ways to cause the seed of faith to sprout
God can use other means to bring people to faith in addition to personal testimonies…even sickness
We shouldn’t be dismayed if it appears others do not believe our message right away
Personal experiences trump other’s testimonies
People come to faith because of what they experience themselves…through their own regeneration
Saving faith will come through experience
It is one thing to know there is a cure for your disease – it’s another thing entirely to personally take the medicine
“We’ve heard about X, Y & Z…but we’ve personally experienced 1, 2 & 3”
Let us not be filled with regret or shame from not telling our loved ones about Christ…don’t wait until it’s too late! Redeem the time while it is still day.
To God Be The Glory!
Posted by Jeff 
Spreading God's Word 